Hunch Leads to Arrest in Children's Video Game Thefts

A hunch led to an arrest of a Glendora man in a police investigation of multiple thefts of children’s video games from , 1950 Auto Center Drive.

At 8:36 p.m. Friday Glendora Police arrested Matthew Hodson, 21, at a home in the 100 block of South Wabash Avenue. He was charged with burglary and bail was set at $20,000.

Security at Wal-Mart found packaging remnants of video games in the men's restroom in the store. They also noticed the same male going into the restroom before the remnants were found.

The games were stolen on two or three different occasions, said Glendora Police Lt. Brian Summers.

An officer in the case suspected that because the games were for young children, the shoplifter was probably selling the games. He suspected , a national retailer of new and used computer and consol video games, might be where the games were being sold.

He checked with Gamestop at 1331 S. Lone Hill Ave. and because Gamestop keeps records of store purchases, police were able to come up with a name and address for the suspected shoplifter.

They then drove to the Wabash residence and made the arrest.

Police believe the suspect removed games and game parts from boxes while he was in the Wal-Mart restroom. He is suspected of concealing the items before leaving the store.

Summers did not have a value on the stolen items, but the games can typically cost between $50 and $60 each.